Grand National Survey: 1 in 50 Brits Think They Could Outrun a Horse
Marius Hrebenciuc
The Grand National is one of the most iconic and enduring sporting events in the British calendar. Steeped in rich history and held annually at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool, this world-famous steeplechase draws in millions of viewers from across the globe, both seasoned racing enthusiasts and casual spectators alike.
With a history dating back to the early 19th century, the Grand National has evolved into much more than a horse race — it's a cultural institution that captures the spirit of British sport and spectacle.
With the event appealing to such a mass audience (and to settle an office debate), the team Free Bets surveyed 2,000 adults from across the UK to test their knowledge of speed and to see how many believed they could run the course faster than a horse.
And the results are certainly eye opening...
Our results found that one in 50 Brits believe they could beat a horse in a 100 metre sprint, with residents in Edinburgh and Norwich tied in first place as the most confident.
Indeed, a staggering 6% (respectively) of those living in Edinburgh and Norwich believe they would have no problems outrunning a horse over 100 metres.
For some perspective, the fastest horse ever recorded managed a speed of more than 40mph and it’s worth remembering Usain Bolt’s fastest ever speed was 27.78mph...
When asked how quickly Brits believed they could complete the Grand National course, the vast majority (45%) believed they'd take 20 minutes or more. Going by the lower end of that estimate, that would still be a mightily impressive run with a required average speed of more than 12 miles per hour.
Shockingly though, 11 per cent of the 2,000 adults polled (more than 1 in 10) estimated they could get around the entire Grand National course of four miles, 514 yards in less than 10 minutes.
And 5 per cent (1 in 20 Brits) believe they could run the course in under 9 minutes! To put that figure into context, the course record as it stands is eight minutes and 47 seconds, set by Mr Frisk as far back as 1990.
Men were more likely than women to back their abilities, with 16% believing they could complete the course in 10 minutes or less, compared to just 7% of women.
Breaking the results down further, our results found that one in 50 (2%) of Brits are so extremely confident in their running abilities, they believed they could complete the world famous racecourse in 5 minutes of less.
Residents from Coventry (6%) and Oxford (5%) were the most bullish in their running abilities.
Again, cracking out the speed distance time calculator, to complete the Grand National course in 5 minutes or less, you'd need to be hauling at an average speed above 50 miles per hour throughout. Whoever these Brits are, please sign up for the British Track and Field running team immediately.
Want to test your knowledge of Grand National speed? Play the quiz below to find out.
